Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) has drawn first blood in the Eneco Tour. Schumacher won a 5.8-km prologue on a flat course in Den Helder in 7:00. George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) finished second, a fraction of a second behind Schumacher, and Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) took third at 0:01.

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Posthuma set the early standard. The Dutchman powered over the course in 7:01 and remained in the lead for more than two and a half hours. Several riders came within a few seconds of Posthuma?s time, but only Schumacher and Hincapie, two late starters, could better it.

Stage 1 will be a flat, 177-km run from Wieringerwerf and Hoogeveen. It should end in a bunch sprint. Who will win? Check in at http://www.roadcycling.com/ and find out!